BRITAIN may be an island, but its waters are little barrier to the legion of imported diseases that threaten human, animal and plant health.

The NFU has long campaigned for more resources at our ports to prevent harmful diseases entering the country.

Farmers have been frustrated by the lack of progress shown by the authorities on stamping out the problem of illegal imports.

We are all getting tired of being fed the same line - that, like illegal drugs, the problem can never be totally eradicated. Of course, that's true, but that doesn't mean you give up the fight.

So we have to welcome a new publicity drive launched last week by the Government aimed at stamping out illegal imports of meat and plant material. The publicity campaign is part of an action plan against illegal imports of meat and plants that was published in March last year.

New posters in high-profile port and airport locations will highlight import restrictions to travellers, which should help to clear up any confusion surrounding what travellers can and can't bring into the UK from abroad.

HM Customs and Excise reports progress in tackling the issue, with evidence that the number of seizures of illegal material is increasing, although official figures are not expected to be available until April.

But it will take more than publicity to tackle the problem. Someone unaware of the regulations bringing home some salami from holiday is one thing; suitcases stuffed with camel or monkey meat aimed at a lucrative market is quite another.

So it is good news that the plan also includes putting strike teams in customs as well as a series of inter-ministerial meetings to ensure effective co-ordination within government.

We must also focus on ensuring that illegally imported food and plants on sale in our shops are seized.

For it isn't just animal diseases that threaten our farming industry - diseases like the recent potato ring rot outbreak and ramorum dieback in trees show that the battle is far from over, and we must all remain vigilant if we are to avoid a repeat of disasters like foot and mouth.

But tighter controls must be backed up with support for farmers who suffer the misfortune of a disease outbreak. The case of the seed potato grower from Brecon who was hit by potato ring rot is a case in point.

The quick action of John Morgan meant that the disease was prevented from spreading further. Yet he is still being hit by the massive costs of the disposal and clean-up operation - costs that Defra should meet.

After all, it is in government's interests to make sure that the stock is disposed of properly so that another outbreak is prevented.

But unlike animal diseases, under EU law compensation for growers affected by plant health disease is left to ministerial discretion, and so far no financial support has been forthcoming. This is clearly wrong.

Without a compensation scheme there is no protection for growers from the financial burden of early outbreaks of pests or diseases. Neither is there any incentive for openness and honesty.

If animal and plant diseases are to be controlled, then there must be fair compensation for growers affected by serious pest and disease outbreaks.